Sky becomes no-fly zone due to Middle East crisis, Air India extends suspension period of flights to Gulf countries

The impact of increasing military tension between Israel and Iran in West Asia is now clearly visible on global aviation services. Due to security reasons and closure of airspace by many countries, Air India has extended the suspension of all its flights to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar till 11:59 pm on Monday night.

Passengers stranded at Indira Gandhi International Airport

The airline also clarified that some scheduled flights to Europe had to be canceled on March 2 due to operational disruptions in sensitive air routes in the Middle East. These restrictions have had a direct impact on passengers. A large number of passengers are stranded at Delhi-based Indira Gandhi International Airport due to cancellation or delay of many international flights. Due to frequent changes in flight timings, passengers are facing immense inconvenience.

The airport administration has advised passengers to confirm the status of their flight before leaving for the airport, as last-minute changes in the schedule are possible. The impact of this crisis is not limited to Air India only. Akasa Air has also temporarily stopped its services to Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait and Riyadh till 2 March 2026. The airline has given affected passengers the option of a full refund or rescheduling their journey without any additional charges. Similarly, Air India Express has canceled more than 110 flights due to closure of airspace in Iran and surrounding areas.

International airlines also affected

International airlines have also been affected by this situation. Dubai-based Emirates temporarily halted flights to and from Dubai until 3pm UAE time on March 2, while the closure of Qatar’s airspace also disrupted services at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Its widespread impact was also seen on major airports of India. Nearly 100 flights were canceled in Delhi, including 60 departures and 40 arrivals. At the same time, 125 flights were canceled at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Many flights at Tiruchirappalli International Airport in South India were also affected.

To assist passengers, the Civil Aviation Ministry has activated its Passenger Assistance Control Room. According to the ministry, complaints received through helpline, social media and Airseva portal are being resolved expeditiously and till now the problems of more than 400 passengers have been resolved.

What do experts think?

Experts believe that disruption in international flight services may continue until the security situation in the region returns to normal. Airlines have advised passengers to regularly check flight updates before travelling, as rapid changes in schedules are possible depending on the circumstances.